The Zong

Let’s remember the legacy of Jerry Falwell, in his own words.

On Civil Rights:

“If Chief Justice Warren and his associates had known God’s word and had desired to do the Lord’s will, I am quite confident that the 1954 decision [Brown v. Board of Education] would never have been made…. The facilities should be separate. When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line.”

On gay marriage:

This was made an issue when the Supreme Court gave constitutional protection to sodomy. So here we have now same-sex marriage. What’s next, polygamy? … Why not? And why not bestiality?

Just before the 2006 midterms:

And you go to Washington — there’s some great and godly men and women in the Congress, but for every one of them, there’s a Hillary Clinton. For every one of them, there’s a Nancy Pelosi. Imagine “San Francisco Pelosi” speaker of the House.

And of course, on why 9/11 happened:

“I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’”

Far from being a man of the cloth, Falwell was just another politician, as full of hatred as the terrorists we’re at war against. He did as much to divide Americans along religious and political lines in his lifetime as anyone I can think of, and he leaves behind a country confused about its relationship with religion, with legions of people equating war and the killing of people in other countries with fighting for Christ.

- M.G.